Los Angeles Kings Defenseman Alec Martinez Quietly Getting The Job Done, Especially On Power Play

March 16, 2012 by Leave a comment

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez has gone from
frequent healthy scratch to being a fixture on the blue line.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Since he was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings on February 24, 2012, forward Jeff Carter has had the desired impact, scoring five goals and adding two assists for seven points in nine games (through games played on March 15, 2012).

His presence also gives the Kings two dangerous lines for opposing teams to deal with, something they have lacked for what seems like an eternity. This has opened up space for center Anze Kopitar, who has four goals and five assists for nine points in the last eight games.

The Kings’ power play, which was ranked near the bottom of the National Hockey League rankings for most of the season, has improved to 17th, with a 16.5% rating, again, much of that attributed to Carter’s presence. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Have Good Reasons To Be Optimistic Heading Into Tough, Crucial Road Trip

March 6, 2012 by 4 Comments

Los Angeles Kings right wing and team captain Dustin Brown issued a challenge to his teammates heading into their crucial
four-game road trip, starting on March 6, 2012, at Nashville.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — As the Los Angeles Kings begin a tough, four-game road trip tonight in Nashville, they find themselves in ninth place in the Western Conference with 72 points, one point behind the eighth-place San Jose Sharks, and three points behind the Dallas Stars for the Pacific Division lead.

The Nashville Predators, currently fifth in the Western Conference with 83 points, are playing extremely well, especially at home, where they have earned a 21-7-5 record this season.

In fact, the Predators have not lost in regulation time in their last twelve home games, earning a 10-0-2 record during that stretch, their last home loss coming on January 5, a 4-1 loss to the Stars.

“[Nashville] is a tough place to play,” said Kings head coach Darryl Sutter. “They haven’t lost since Christ was a child.”

Moving right along…the Kings suffered a 2-1 loss at Nashville on February 27, a game in which they felt that they played well. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings: Smarter, Better, More Disciplined Play Needed From Ethan Moreau

November 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

Los Angeles Kings veteran left wing Ethan Moreau has been
noticeable for all the wrong reasons lately.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — When the Los Angeles Kings signed rugged, checking winger Ethan Moreau to a one-year, unrestricted free agent contract on August 20, 2011, the expectation was that he would bring energy, physical play, solid forechecking and strong defensive play to the Kings’ third and fourth lines.

The 36-year-old, 6-3, 223-pound native of Huntsville, Ontario, a former captain of the Edmonton Oilers, also brings veteran leadership, and years of National Hockey League experience.

But so far this season, Moreau has played well in spurts, but has not given the Kings anywhere near enough of what is needed or expected.

“His role is basically to be that fourth line left winger—grit, size, experience, and to give us that harder game, and that’s been there…in and out,” said head coach Terry Murray. “But there’s been times that it’s been very good, and I think, in the last couple of games, I’ve seen more of it [from him while playing with right wing Kevin] Westgarth and [center Colin] Fraser, and that’s stuff that we need.” Read more of this post

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Frozen Royalty Audio: LA Kings Tame The Wild, 5-2; Jim Fox Honored During Second Intermission – Video

November 13, 2011 by Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES — Five different players scored goals in the first and second periods to lead the Los Angeles Kings to an easy 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in front of a sell-out crowd of 18,118 fans at Staples Center on November 12.

Colin Fraser opened the scoring at 2:49 of the first period, netting his first goal of the season, and his first ever with the Kings. The game was scoreless for the remainder of the period, but the Kings exploded for four goals in the second period by Alec Martinez, Dustin Brown, Simon Gagne and Matt Greene, giving the Kings a 5-0 lead heading into the third period. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Defenseman Prospect Jake Muzzin Likely To Be Waiting Awhile For His Turn

July 21, 2011 by 17 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Last season, defenseman prospect Jake Muzzin came out of nowhere to make the Los Angeles Kings’ 2010-11 opening night roster, despite having playing in just one regular season game and 13 playoff games at the American Hockey League level in 2009-10.

Defenseman prospect Jake Muzzin speaks to
the media during the Los Angeles Kings
2011 Development Camp at the
Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California,
July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

Prior to that, the 6-3, 213-pound native of Woodstock, Ontario was a standout with the Sault Ste. Marie (Soo) Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for four seasons, scoring 15 goals and adding 52 assists for 67 points in 64 games with 76 penalty minutes.

That was when he caught the eyes of the Kings scouts. The result: the Kings signed him as an unrestricted free agent on January 4, 2010, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Muzzin was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft, but had surgery to repair two herniated discs in 2005, and played sparingly in 2006-07—just 37 games.

Not wanting to take a risk on a young player who already had major back problems, the Penguins did not sign Muzzin to a contract, nor was he selected in the draft by another NHL team. Accordingly, he became an unrestricted free agent during the 2010 off-season. Read more of this post

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2010-11 Los Angeles Kings Year-In-Review: Defense And Goaltending Was Their Strength

May 16, 2011 by 10 Comments

2010-11 YEAR IN REVIEW: Part 2 of a series.

LOS ANGELES — Although their offense left much to be desired during the 2010-11 season, the Los Angeles Kings were one of the best defensive teams in the league.

After being a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was not bad in 2010-11. Nevertheless, after such a solid 2009-10 season, his play this
season was still a major disappointment.
Photo: David Sheehan

Solid goaltending from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, strong play on the blue line by their defensemen most of the time, and contributions by the forwards to the defensive effort combined to put in the Kings among the top ten defensive teams in the National Hockey League, ranking sixth, allowing an average of 2.39 goals per game.

Indeed, defense is a team effort, but in Part 2 of Frozen Royalty’s look back at the players, coaches and front office during the 2010-11 season, it’s time to focus on the defensemen and goaltenders.

LEGEND: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; P = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes; PP = Power Play Goals; SH = Shorthanded Goals; GW = Game Winning Goals; OT = Overtime Goals; S = Shots; TOI = Time On Ice/Game; SFT = Shifts/Game; FO% = Face-Off Winning Percentage

Jack Johnson

2010-11 Regular Season: 82 GP, 5 G, 37 A, 42 P, -21, 44 PIM, 3 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW, 0 OT, 153 S, 23:11 TOI, 25.9 SFT

2009-10 Regular Season: 80 GP, 8 G, 28 A, 36 P, -15, 48 PIM, 3 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW, 0 OT, 130 S, 22:36 TOI, 24.4 SFT

2010-11 Playoffs: 6 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 P, -2, 0 PIM, 1 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW, 0 OT, 16 S, 22:48 TOI, 28.5 SFT

2009-10 Playoffs: 6 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 P, -5, 6 PIM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW, 0 OT, 15 S, 23:41 TOI, 25.5 SFT

Jack Johnson got off to a solid start this season, taking up the slack from Drew Doughty (see below) during the early going. His skating and puck-handling abilities shined through often, even though he was never the key guy you wanted on the ice in key defensive situations, as his team-worst -21 rating indicates. Read more of this post

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